Iker Caillas: Are Real Madrid set to chop legendary Spain goalkeeper?

Have Real Madrid lost faith in Iker Caillas?

That was the question posed on Revista de La Liga this week after Spanish newspaper Marca reported that Carlo Ancelotti is planning to start new signing Keylor Navas ahead of Spain’s World Cup winning goalkeeper for the forthcoming game against Elche.

Casillas has been at Real Madrid since 1999, winning five league titles and three Champions Leagues in that time, but has been booed by the Bernabeu crowd in the early part of this season.

Sky Sports’ Spanish expert Guillem Balague believes his form has been affected by the jeers, prompting manager Ancelotti to drop him.

He told Revista: “What’s interesting is the centre-backs are dropping deep, perhaps because they don’t trust the goalie?

Keylor Navas is sharper. He’s training sharper and Casillas has been affected, not only mentally but physically by what has happened.

“That is a question to ask the centre-backs. They will never answer of course, but I just wonder if everybody is losing faith with Casillas at the moment?

“Has Ancelotti seen a player who is lacking in something? Confidence? There’s something missing there and it’s quite clear he’s not enjoying his football.

“This comes in a week when Florentino Pérez said they had to protect Casillas because he’s been there for 15 years – as if they needed reminding how important he is to the club.

“He was given a trophy as an homage to those 15 years, which you would normally get on the pitch in front of your fans, but instead it was done in a room hidden away. It seemed like Iker Casillas was scared of people whistling him.

“The whole situation is a bit scary, but you’ve got a coach who has taken a decision which I think is a football decision mostly.

“Keylor Navas is sharper. He’s training sharper and Casillas has been affected, not only mentally but physically by what has happened.”

Ancelotti favoured Diego Lopez in most of Real Madrid’s league games last season with Casillas playing in the club’s triumphant run in the Champions League.

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Casillas appeared to have re-emerged as first choice after Lopez was sold to AC Milan over the summer, but is facing the chop after conceding twice in an 8-2 win over Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday.

However, fellow expert Terry Gibson says it would be harsh to drop him on form alone.

“It comes a week after Carlo Ancelotti said there was going to be no debate about the goalkeeper position,” he said.

“It is a big surprise. Casillas is not to blame for the goals at the weekend. The first one was a harsh penalty and the second was a header from a centre-forward that wasn’t picked up by the two central defenders.

“Certainly Casillas’ performance at the weekend doesn’t merit him being dropped. Will he be rested? We’ll see, but the debate goes on.”